Can you split januvia tablets

When in doubt, ask your doctor or pharmacist to show you how to do it properly. There is no official, complete list of medicines that can be split. But it is usually okay to split drugs that treat:. But some drugs should never be split. For example, the pain medicine oxycodone OxyContin is released over time in the body. If you split it, you could get an overdose. These materials were made possible by a grant from the state Attorney General Consumer and Prescriber Education Grant Program, which is funded by a multistate settlement of consumer fraud claims regarding the marketing of the prescription drug Neurontin gabapentin.

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You can also show support by liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter. Sign In. Become a Member. Remember Me. Forgot username or password? Not a member? Need further assistance? Please call Member Services at When It's Safe to Split Pills. This practice can save money, but make sure you choose the right ones.

Postmarketing cases of metformin-associated lactic acidosis have resulted in death, hypothermia, hypotension, and resistant bradyarrhythmias. The onset of metformin-associated lactic acidosis is often subtle, accompanied only by nonspecific symptoms such as malaise, myalgias, respiratory distress, somnolence, and abdominal pain. Risk factors for metformin-associated lactic acidosis include renal impairment, concomitant use of certain drugs eg, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors such as topiramate , age 65 years old or greater, having a radiological study with contrast, surgery and other procedures, hypoxic states eg, acute congestive heart failure , excessive alcohol intake, and hepatic impairment.

Prompt hemodialysis is recommended. Postmarketing metformin-associated lactic acidosis cases primarily occurred in patients with significant renal impairment. The risk of metformin accumulation and metformin-associated lactic acidosis increases with the severity of renal impairment because metformin is substantially excreted by the kidney.

In patients at increased risk for the development of renal impairment eg, the elderly , renal function should be assessed more frequently. Consider more frequent monitoring of patients. Assess renal function more frequently in elderly patients. Administration of intravascular iodinated contrast agents in metformin-treated patients has led to an acute decrease in renal function and the occurrence of lactic acidosis. Withholding of food and fluids during surgical or other procedures may increase the risk for volume depletion, hypotension, and renal impairment.

Postmarketing cases of metformin-associated lactic acidosis have occurred in the setting of acute congestive heart failure particularly when accompanied by hypoperfusion and hypoxemia. Cardiovascular collapse shock , acute myocardial infarction, sepsis, and other conditions associated with hypoxemia have been associated with lactic acidosis and may also cause prerenal azotemia. Alcohol potentiates the effect of metformin on lactate metabolism and this may increase the risk of metformin-associated lactic acidosis.

Patients with hepatic impairment have developed metformin-associated lactic acidosis. This may be due to impaired lactate clearance resulting in higher lactate blood levels.

The recommended dosage is 5 mg, once a day. Januvia and Tradjenta both work in the same way. So both medications can cause very similar side effects. Below are examples of these side effects. These lists contain examples of more common side effects that can occur with Januvia, with Tradjenta, or with both drugs when taken individually. These lists contain examples of serious side effects that can occur with Januvia, with Tradjenta, or with both drugs when taken individually.

Januvia and Tradjenta are both FDA-approved to treat type 2 diabetes, along with diet and exercise. Separate studies of the two drugs were compared in a larger review of studies.

Researchers looked at how well Januvia and Tradjenta helped lower A1C levels. This is a measure of how well your blood sugar is controlled over a few months. Januvia was found to be as effective as Tradjenta. Januvia and Tradjenta are both brand-name drugs. There are currently no generic forms of either drug. Brand-name medications usually cost more than generics. According to estimates on GoodRx. This is because an unacceptable level of a probable carcinogen cancer-causing agent was found in some extended-release metformin tablets.

If you currently take this drug, call your healthcare provider. They will advise whether you should continue to take your medication or if you need a new prescription. In addition to Tradjenta above , metformin is also used to treat type 2 diabetes. Here we look at how Januvia and metformin are alike and different. The Food and Drug Administration FDA has approved both Januvia and metformin to treat type 2 diabetes in adults, along with diet and exercise.

Metformin is also approved to treat type 2 diabetes in children. Januvia belongs to a class of drugs called dipeptidyl peptidase-4 DPP-4 inhibitors.

Metformin is part of the drug class called biguanides. Both Januvia and metformin come as tablets that you swallow. Metformin also comes as a liquid medication that you swallow. Januvia is taken once a day. Metformin can be taken from one to three times per day, depending on the dose. Januvia and metformin have different effects on the body, so both medications can cause different side effects.

These lists contain examples of more common side effects that can occur with Januvia or with metformin. These lists contain examples of serious side effects that can occur with Januvia, with metformin, or with both drugs when taken individually.

Januvia and metformin are both FDA-approved to treat type 2 diabetes, along with diet and exercise. Researchers looked at the results of seven clinical trials. They found that Januvia was as effective as metformin at improving A1C levels.

Januvia is a brand-name drug. Metformin is available as a brand-name drug Glucophage, Fortamet, Riomet and in a generic form. But drinking too much alcohol can decrease the level of glucose sugar in your blood. This can lead to a condition called hypoglycemia low blood sugar. If you drink heavily on a regular basis and have low blood sugar, your blood sugar level may drop even more.

Also, drinking too much alcohol can damage your pancreas. Drinking alcohol may increase your chances of having pancreatitis while taking Januvia. If you drink alcohol and are concerned about how it might interact with Januvia, talk with your doctor.

They can tell you how much is safe for you to drink during your treatment. Januvia can interact with several other medications. It can also interact with certain supplements as well as certain herbs. Different interactions can cause different effects. For instance, some interactions can interfere with how well a drug works.

Other interactions can increase the number of side effects or make them more severe. Below is a list of medications that can interact with Januvia. Before taking Januvia, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take.

Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist. In addition to helping prevent pregnancy, the hormones in birth control pills can increase the amount of sugar in your blood.

With this higher level of sugar in your blood, Januvia may not work as well. They can recommend the best way to avoid becoming pregnant. Taking Januvia with the heart medication digoxin Lanoxin can increase the amount of digoxin in your body. Too much digoxin can increase your chance of dangerous side effects, such as diarrhea, dizziness, and headache. If you have different doctors for your heart condition and diabetes, tell them both about the drugs you take.

They may monitor your health more closely. Insulin or drugs that help your body make insulin can interact with Januvia. Taking both medications together may cause your blood sugar level to drop and lead to hypoglycemia low blood sugar. Once you start taking Januvia, your doctor may adjust your dosage of insulin or insulin medications.

But some herbs may help reduce the amount of sugar in your blood. Taking these herbs with Januvia may cause hypoglycemia low blood sugar , which can be dangerous.

Some of the herbs and supplements that may help reduce the amount of sugar in your blood include:. Managing the amount of glucose sugar in your blood is very important. Too much sugar can lead to hyperglycemia high blood sugar. Your body helps control the amount of sugar in your blood with a type of hormone called insulin. Hormones are substances that can control how certain cells and organs work.

With type 2 diabetes, your body develops insulin resistance. As the level of sugar in your blood increases, the level decreases in your cells and organs. So your pancreas tries to make more insulin to help control your blood sugar. When you have type 2 diabetes, you need to watch your diet. Exercise is also vital. It helps reduce the amount of sugar in your blood.

When you exercise, your muscles draw energy from sugar. So sugar moves from your blood into your muscles. You may need to take medication to get your blood sugar to a safe level. Most of these drugs need to be taken for a long time. Januvia primarily works by increasing the amount of insulin in your body, which lowers your blood sugar levels. Januvia stops the activity of a protein called dipeptidyl peptidase 4 DPP DPP-4 reduces the amount of two substances that decrease the amount of insulin in your body.

This in turn increases the amount of insulin that your body makes. High levels of insulin then decrease the amount of sugar in your blood. In addition, higher levels of GLP-1 cause your body to release less of a hormone called glucagon. This hormone increases the amount of sugar in your blood. So with less glucagon in your body, your blood sugar levels decrease. After taking Januvia, it may be about a week until your blood sugar level starts to decrease.

Your sugar-monitoring tests may be a good way for you to check the amount of sugar in your blood. Type 2 diabetes is a long-term condition, so Januvia treatment is long term as well. If you suddenly stop taking the drug, your blood sugar level will increase again. You can also call the American Association of Poison Control Centers at or use their online tool. But if your symptoms are severe, call or go to the nearest emergency room right away.

You can take Januvia at any time, once a day. Your doctor can help you decide what time is best for you based on your schedule.

If you have problems swallowing Januvia tablets, talk with your doctor. They can recommend strategies that make swallowing tablets easier. Or they may recommend other medications that are easier for you to take.

In animal studies , no problems were reported in the mother or fetus when the mother was given Januvia during pregnancy. They can discuss your treatment options. And ask your doctor about the clinical registry for pregnant women who are taking Januvia. Pregnancy registries collect information about you and your baby. They help doctors learn how certain drugs affect women and their pregnancies. Your doctor may recommend that you register. Studies conducted in animals showed that the drug was present in breast milk.

No harmful effects occurred to the baby animals. They can advise you on the best way to feed your child. Januvia can be taken by itself or with insulin. Whether or not you need to take insulin depends on the amount of sugar in your blood.

Your doctor will look at your lab tests and treatment history to decide whether you need insulin with Januvia. Januvia is only approved to treat type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is thought to involve a problem with your immune system. Your immune system is what protects your body from infections. In people with type 1 diabetes, the immune system gets confused and attacks the production of insulin.

Some studies have suggested that Januvia improves blood sugar and lowers the amount of insulin that people with type 1 diabetes need. Other studies found no benefit of using Januvia for type 1 diabetes. If you have type 1 diabetes, talk with your doctor.